Cleaning tool



June a, 1943. A. MISSMIERV 2,321,231

cnmnme TOOL Filed May 15, 1941 Patented June 8, 1943 CLEANING 'roor. Alice Mlssmer, Bethlehem, Pa., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del.,

of Delaware a corporation Application May 15, 1941, Serial No. 393,529

3 Claims. (01. -458) My invention relates to a cleaning tool for use in connection with a vacuum cleaner, and more especially to a tool of this nature which may be connected to the suction hose and is capable of reaching into places which are inaccessible for cleaning by tools heretofore known.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a tool having a suction opening formed at one end of, a flexible but inelastic tube. The nature of this tube is such that, while providing a substantially airtight conduit, it may be deformed into practically any shape and has no tendency to spring back to its original shape. Moreover, it v has s'uflicient rigidity when deformed so as to retain the desired shape under the force which it is necessary to apply to it during cleaning. A tool of this nature may be used in many places where either a rigid or an elastic tube could not be employed satisfactorily. It is especially useful in cleaning the coils of bedsprings, behind books in a bookcase, and in many other places requiring an angularly shaped tool.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification and of which:

Fig. 1 is a side view showing my improved tool connected to the suction conduit of a vacuum cleaner;

Fig. 2 is a side view on an enlarged scale, partially in cross-section of the tool shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the previously illustrated tool, showing two of the parts in separated condition; and I Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modification of a portion of the tool shown in the preceding figures.

Referring to the drawing, reference character It designates generally a; vacuum cleaner' of the end closed bag type. A suction hose l l is connected at one end to the inlet opening of the cleaner it, while the opposite end of the hose is provided with a rigid portion l2. The vacuum cleaner includes a motor-fan unit which draws air through the hose II and causes it to pass through a dust bag, or other dust-separating member-for the purpose of removing entrained dust therefrom. l

The new tool in accordance with my invention is designated generally by reference character ll. It includes a hollow rigid member l5 having an internal pore such that it frictionally engages the end of member I! in airtight manner, but may be removed therefrom. Preferably, the bore of member 15 and the outer surface of member I! are similarly tapered so as to assure a tight fit between the two. Member I5 is formed with a portion i6 of smaller diameter within which is permanently secured, as by welding, one end of a piece of spirally wound metal tubing I'I. As is well known, this tubing is flexible and may be bent into various shapes by displacing the interleaved spiral turns with respect to each other. This may be done without substantial distortion of the material of the tube and hence without imposing any appreciable strain on the material .itself, and therefore the tube has practically no tendency to return to its original straightshape. On the contrary, in order for it to return, it is necessary to overcome friction between the interleaved turns and consequently the tube will retain whatever shape it may be given. is rendered substantially airtight by means of a hemp cord or the like 21 wound in the spiral space between the turns.

Permanently secured to the opposite end of the tube ll, as by welding, is a hollow rigid member l8. Member I8 is formed with a shoulder ill between portions of different diameter, and the portion 20 of smaller diameter is preferably made slightly tapered.

A nozzle member 2i includes a rigid tubular portion 22 which is tapered to correspond with the portion 20 of member It so that it may frictionally engage theportlon 20. The other end of member 22 is formed with a bead 23 within which is permanently received a ring 24 carrying brush bristles 25. These bristles surround the inlet opening in the member 22 and are disposed substantially axially with respect to nozzle.

As shown in Fig. 3, the member 2| may be removed from the end of tube i1 and the latter may be used directly as a nozzle if bristles are not desired.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified form of nozzle member, here designated by reference character 2 la. As shown, this includes a conical portion-22 adapted to frictionally engage the portion 20 of member I8; However, the bristles 25a are secured within an annular groove 26 and, as shown, extend radially with respect to the member Zla, as well as axially.

In use, the tube ll may be bent to any shape desired in order to make it possible to introduce the nozzle member 2Ia into places which it would be impossible to reach witha straight tube. For the reasons above explained, once the tube is bent in this fashion, it has no tendency to straighten 9 2 and has sufilcient stiffness so that The tube v toasbeing semi-rigid. I

surface to be cleaned with sufllcient force to enable the bristles-to dislodge the dirt, without further deforming, the tube l1. Obviously, the tube may be deformed into practically any shape, depending upon the nature of the place to be cleaned. The flow of air into'the nozzle mem-- ber picks up the dirt dislodged by the bristles, as well as other dirt within range of the air stream, and carries the dirt through the tube I1 and hose I I into the vacuum cleaner.

While I have described more or less specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done ior purposes of illustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

' 7 Other forms of tubing diflerent from the spirally wound metaltubing disclosed can be used in place thereof as long as the tubing can be bent manually into the desired shape and has the ability to maintain such shape by itself after having been bent. Throughout the claims, tubing having such characteristics wi l be'referred What I claim is:

l. A vacuum cleaner dusting tool including a hollow rigid member adapted to be connected to a suction conduit, a semi-rigid airtight tubular member capable of being bent to a certain shape and of a structure to retain such shape having one end permanently secured to said rigid the nozzle member may be pressed against the member, a second hollow rigid member permanently secured to the opposite end of said semirigid member, and a suction nozzle carried by said second member.

2. A vacuum cleaner dusting tool including a hollow rigid'member adapted to be connected to a suction conduit. a semi-rigid airtight tubular member capable of being bent to a certain shape and of a structure to retain such shape having one end permanently secured to said rigid member. a second hollow rigid member perma nently secured to the opposite end of said semirigid member, and a suction nozzle including a rigid tubular portion removably securable to said second member and brush bristles carried by said tubular portion.

3. A vacuum cleaner dusting -too1 including a. hollow rigid member adapted to be connected to a suction conduit, a semi-rigid airtight tubular member capable of being bent to a certain shape and of a structure to retain such shape having one end permanently secured to said rigid member, a second hollow rigid member permanently secured to the opposite end of said semi-rigid member, and a suction nozzle including a rigid tubular portion removably securable to said second member and formed with a suction opening at one end and brush bristles carried by said tubular portion and surrounding said suction opening, at least a part of said bristles extending co-axially with respect to said tubular portion.

ALICE MISSMER. 

